Attachment for cotton-gins



(No Model.) l

R. M. BLAGKWELDBR.

ATTACHMENT FOR COTTON GINS.

Patented Sept. 13

UNiTnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD M. BLACKVELDER, OF CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA.

ATTACHMENT FOR COTTON-GINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,978, dated September 13, 1887.

(No model.)

and useful Improvements in Attachments for Cotton-Gins, of which the following is a speciication.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for loosening, opening, and spreading the fibers composing the roll of cotton in the roll-box of a cottongin, whereby the cotton fibers will be placed in position to be readily engaged by the giusaws and be subjected to a more perfect ginning action without knotting or tangling.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiarities of construction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure lis a sectional side elevation of a cotton-gin with my improved attachment applied, part of the frame being broken out. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the gin-saws, grid, and spreading attachment viewed from within the roll-box that receives the cotton to be ginned. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe loosening, opening, and spreading attachment. Fig. 4 is a partial end view of the cotton-gin, with a portion ofthe spreading attachment in section.

Referring to the above-mentioned figures, the letter A designates the frame of the gin. B is the roll-box that receives the cotton from the feeder. C are the gin-saws, and D is the rotating brush-cylinder.

The gin-saws are mounted on an arbor, E, and rotate in the vertical slots formed by the grid-frame, as usual. The grid F forms the rear or inner side of the roll-box B, which is hinged to the main frame and provided with adj listing-screws a, in the ordinary manner.

To the upper rear portion of the roll-box B is attached a transverse bar, G, having pins b secured thereto and projecting through perforations in the rear wall of the roll-box. At

each end of the bar G is a thumb-screw, c, by which it can be adjusted toward or from the roll-box B, so as to cause the pins?) b to project to a greater or less distance within said box. The pins b b alternate with each other in two rows, and are so arranged that each pin will project in line with and above one of the ribs d d comprised in the grid-frame F, as shown in Fig. 2. This bar G, with its pins and thumbscrews arranged as shown,serves as an adjustable loosening, opening, and spreading attachment, operating to prevent a too rapid rotation of the cotton-roll and to bring the cotton into more perfect contact with the gin-saws,so as to effect a more thorough and speedy separation of the lint or fiber from the Seeds.

By means of the pins b alternating with the gin-saws C, as shown. in Fig. 2, the cotton-roll is loosened and spread or pressed apart in such a way as to throw the cotton laterally toward and in front of the saws, so as to enable the saws readily to engage the fibers without liability of knotting and compacting the cotton in a manner to obstruct the action of the saws.

The cotton is fed into the roll-box through an opening, e, in its top and falls onto the rotating gin-saws. The saws not only gin the cotton as it falls in Contact with them, but at the same time impart to it a forward movement, which causes the portion remaining in the roll-box to assume the form of a roll. This roll ofcotton is engaged by the pinsb b, which prevent it from moving too rapidly, and by loosening, opening, or throwing the cotton apart enable the gin-saws to perform their work with greater ease and efficiency. The seeds that are separated from the cotton pass through the discharge-openingf, as usual. The fiber or lint adhering to the saws is carried through the slotted opening of the grid F,and brushed off by the rotating brush-cylinder D, the motes falling on the mote-board H, while the lint is carried through to the condenser. By turning the thumb-screws cc the bar G can be adjusted so as to force the pins b b more or less into the roll of cotton in the box B and enable the saws to gin thel cotton with greater or less rapidity, as required. It is obvious that the pins b, by loosening the cotton and spreading it apart, thereby directing it into closer contact with the saws, will exert a favorable action in facilitating the separation of the seeds, and thus enable a given quantity of cotton to be ginned more perfectly and in less time than ordinary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl; The combination, with the roll-box,saws,

IOO

y and ribs of a cotton-gin, of a bar provided with pins projecting into the interior of the rollboX and alternating With the saws and adapted, as described, to enter the roll of cotton in the said boxl and loosen and spread the fibers of the said roll, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the saws, ribs,and roll-box of a cotton-gin. of a bar arranged on the exterior of the roll-boX and provided with pins extending through the wall of the said rollfbox into lthe latter for penetrating and loosening the cotton-roll'and spreading it onto the saws, said pins alternating with the saws, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the saws, ribs, and roll-box of a cotton-gin having a perforated rear wall, of a bar arranged at the exterior of said ro11-boX and provided with pins projecting into the box through its perforated rear wall, said pins alternating in arrangement with the saws, and means `for adjusting the bar to and from the roll-box and causing the pins to project'more or less into the cottonroll, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the saws, ribs, and roll-box of a cotton-gin, of a transverse bar having rows of alternating pins projecting into the roll-box to engage and enter the roll of cotton therein, and set-screws engaging the bar and roll-box for adjusting the bar and causing the pins to project more or less into the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.`

RICHARD M. BLACKWELDER.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. LESLIE, JN0. A. CLINE. 

